Northern Circuit Route 9 Days Itinerary, Prices, Hiking Dates

The Northern Circuit Route 9 Days Itinerary, Prices & Dates.

Among the eight known ascent routes to Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit 9 Days Itinerary is the most recent. It’s the only way to see Mount Kilimanjaro from every angle, yet it’s also the longest trek on the mountain. Because of its lengthier itinerary and more leisurely pace, the Northern Circuit route is promoted by several operators as the easiest Kilimanjaro route. Indeed, this path provides excellent acclimatization without very difficult daily shifts. Itineraries that are shorter tend to be easier on hikers, but the 8-day trek may be too much for those without prior experience with such lengthy treks.

Among the many Kilimanjaro hiking routes, the Northern Circuit stands out for its excellent acclimatization profile, stunning scenery, and less used paths. For those who want a more secluded ascent free of crowds, the Northern Circuit path is the way to go on Kilimanjaro.

Envision yourself adventuring across the vast “Roof of Africa” for more than 24 hours. Mount Kilimanjaro’s volcanic panoramas, the boundless African savannah, the south Kenyan plains, and weird and gorgeous high-altitude plants like Dendrosenecio kilimanjari become visible as you gradually climb higher and higher. Lush tropical woods give way to these sights. The Milky Way, a celestial web adorned with millions of brilliant stars, is a sight to behold after the sun goes down. On summit day, you will get the opportunity to climb Uhuru Peak and take in a stunning sunrise, famous glaciers, and the alpine desert zone close to the equator. And for those who are really daring, there’s always the option to spend an extra night in the Crater, becoming one of the select few fortunate visitors who get to do it annually.

Detailed Northern Circuit Route 9 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a representative from The Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company will be waiting to drive you to your accommodation at no additional cost. All the necessities for a pleasant stay will be provided by the hotel: warm rooms, running water, friendly personnel, a pool, and Internet connection. You will be briefed by our management in the evening, and they will also ensure that you are prepared to start the ascent.

Transfers from and to the airport are part of most private trip packages. Adding more than one person to a transfer will incur additional fees. Get everyone in your company to agree on the same arrival and departure hours to save money.

Day 2: High-Altitude Drop Off Destination And Trekking To Shira 1 Camp

For a final briefing in the morning, your climbing support team and guide will meet you at your hotel. Then, after around three to four hours of driving, you will reach the western gate of Kilimanjaro National Park, Londorossi Gate (2,250 m /7,380 f).

Your group will proceed to the drop-off site (3,414 m / 11,200 f) in vehicles after the short formalities of obtaining climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service. At this point, you will get your first glimpse of the breathtaking Shira Plateau.

Your first high-altitude, Shira 1 camp, is located a short distance from your drop-off location, and the hike there is not particularly strenuous. Acclimatization can get off to a good start because of this. Upon your arrival at camp, the climbing crew will have already put up the tents, chairs, drinks, and meals for you so that you can rest and enjoy the evening.

PLEASE NOTE: You should pay close attention to the following instructions from now on because this is your first day at this altitude:

Throughout the day, slowly yet steadily consume more than four liters of bottled water;

You might want to think about taking a high-altitude assistance medication as a preventative step in case you have symptoms of altitude sickness. Before setting out on their climb, many mountaineers take these medications to alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. Along with your vacation plans, our managers will give you additional particular information. We advise that you address any possible allergies or health issues with your doctor before the trip.

Because your breathing pattern slows down at night, your body receives less oxygen than during the day, which might lead to pain as you acclimate to the high altitude. Because of the high altitude, you can feel nauseous and have a headache. If you experience any signs of altitude sickness, it is important to listen to your body and inform your guide immediately.

Trekking time: 1 hour
Distance: 4 km

Day 3: Shira 1 to Shira 2 Trek

As you continue your walk from Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp, you will encounter another small ascent of 240 m /787 f. Because the hike isn’t too strenuous, you’ll have plenty of energy to take in the breathtaking scenery, unique vegetation, and, on a clear day, vistas of Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth-highest peak.

PLEASE NOTE: You will have a two-hour break after lunch. The next step is to go on an ascent to Lava Tower, which will put you at an additional 260 meters (853 feet) above sea level and help you acclimate to the change in elevation.

Acclimatization hike:
Change in Elevation: Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,631 f)
Destination point en route to Lava Tower (4,110 m /13,484 f)
Hiking distance: 2 km
Hiking time: 1-2 hours
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 7 km

Day 4: Shira 2 to Moir Hut via Lava Tower Trek

Leaving Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,628 f) after breakfast, your group will hike to Lava Tower (4,600 m /15,088 f).

Climbers face a test on this path, and many report that today was more taxing on their bodies than the days prior. You may rest assured that Lava Tower will provide a fun lunch stop for your company.

Following a short break for lunch and relaxation, your group will make a short ascent before descending to Moir Hut Camp.

Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 14 km

Day 5: Trekking from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp

On this day you will have a somewhat long, but easy journey. Leaving Moir Valley, where you spent the night, requires a short but steep ascent; from there, you’ll spend the majority of the day hiking along Kilimanjaro’s northern side. You won’t be climbing too high, but you will spend much of the day climbing and descending.

You will be rewarded with breathtaking vistas of the Tsavo and Amboseli valleys as you go along this path, which is near the Kenyan border.

Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 12 km

Day 6: Trekking from Buffalo Camp to Third Cave Camp

At third Cave Camp, where the trail connects with the classic Rongai route, you will spend the night after completing the ascent of Kilimanjaro’s northern slope. Since you should now be fully acclimated to the 3,800 m /12,464 f altitude, which will improve your overall health, today’s trekking is shorter than yesterday’s.

Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 8 km

Day 7: Trekking from 3rd Cave Camp to School Hut

The ascent to the School Hut Summit Camp, at an elevation of 4,800 m (15,744 f), is the objective of today’s expedition. The hike isn’t particularly challenging, but you should go at a reasonable speed so you can save your energy for the last ascent to Kilimanjaro. We advise getting plenty of rest, not doing anything too intense, and drinking enough of water once you reach camp. The culmination of your Kilimanjaro experience will be reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f), which you will reach after waking up in the dark this night.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5 km

Day 8: Ascent to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp

On the night of the summit, we will allocate one guide for every two climbers because your safety is our utmost priority. Ascents of Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f) require careful attention to the climber’s well-being, which is the guide’s primary duty. Around midnight, the ascent begins at School Hut Summit Camp, which is at an elevation of 4,800 m (15,744 f). The high altitude makes what is technically an easy climb feel much more so.

Once you reach the peak, you’ll be able to walk to the nearby glaciers. The next stop is Barafu Camp, where the party will have a two-hour meal and relax. After that, you’ll keep descending until you reach Millenium Camp, which is 3,950 meters (12,956 feet) above sea level.

PLEASE NOTE: Remember that 90% of accidents happen while descending. Be careful not to trip, hurt yourself, or hurt your toes.

Day 9: Return to Mweka Gate from Millennium Camp

The tropical jungle is the setting for Millennium Camp. A decent night’s sleep is possible at the lower altitude, thanks to the sense of achievement you’ll have achieved by reaching the peak. Following a hearty breakfast, you will make your last descent to the park’s departure gate, Mweka Gate, which is located 1,640 m /5,379 ft. Before you are brought to our office to collect your summit certificates, this is your last visit. This is a great chance to snap a group shot as a team and reminisce about the journey with your support crew. At last, you’ll be whisked away to your hotel for a relaxing night’s sleep.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 12 km

Day 10: Departure

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE: Time to check out of the hotel is 11:00 AM. You can choose to prolong your hotel stay for an additional cost if you require a late check-out due to an evening flight.

End of the Northern Circuit Route 9 Days Itinerary

Northern Circuit route – Summit Success Rate

Some regional businesses may boast an astoundingly high peak success rate of almost 100% using this particular strategy. But, based on our extensive data collecting and expertise spanning over a decade, we have come up with more reasonable and conservative estimates. The following are the success rates for the Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit route:

This is the 8-day Northern Circuit route: Crater Rim is 90.2% and Uhuru Peak is 81.3%.

It should be noted that in the event that one hiker opts to return while their companion wishes to join them, we see it as a failed attempt at the summit for both of them, impacting the statistics. Most hikers who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro via the Northern Circuit eventually succeed. Poorly prepared hikers may be exhausted by the final summit day due to the longer daily walks, rather than altitude sickness or difficulty.

When you book your expedition with The Kilimanjaro Trekking Services Company, we’ll do all in our power to ensure that your journey to the summit of Uhuru is as easy and pleasant as possible, and that you have all the resources you need to reach the peak without incident. To start, no other Kilimanjaro tour company has more oxygen tanks than we. As a result, we can avoid dangerous altitude sickness by utilizing additional oxygen during acclimatization. With great pride, we have invested extensively in the education and training of the top guides, porters, mountain cooks, and other specialists in Kiliamnajro, and we are proud to hire them. The professionalism and upbeat, encouraging demeanor of our guides have earned them thousands of five-star evaluations. They will make sure that every hiker in your group is acclimatizing well and perform two medical checks a day. Finally, being the largest operator on Kilimanjaro for over a decade has given us the opportunity to perfect our climbing programs down to the last detail, including nutritionist-designed meals, custom-made tents, comprehensive medical kits, and more.